Officers found the Carters’ corpses in their apartment at 917 W. 81st St. Monday afternoon. Neighbors had called authorities complaining of a foul odor coming from the apartment. They said no one had seen the woman or her son in several days. A van was also missing.

Both mother and son appeared to have been beaten to death, police said.

Townsend was arrested at an apartment on 31st Street and Cimarron Avenue. Police said they found Carter's van.

Neighbors on the street said they believed the elder Carter was being abused, but she said little to other residents.

“She was quiet and discreet about what she was going through in life,” said Terry Williams, a neighbor.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call LAPD homicide detectives at (213) 485-1383.